Though not required, you may use a URITK page to gather your research for your final exam. The questions that you should address include:
What is the problem or issue?
Why is this issue important?
What is the historical roots of this problem? What has been tried in the past?
What are the current approaches?
How does this problem/issue relate to RI schools? Is there evidence of a connection to the schools/districts/communities that we researched earlier?
What are your views, opinions, concerns, or solutions related to the problem?
I. ISSUE - The United States needs to increase the number of students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degrees/careers.
II. IMPORTANCE OF ISSUE - The US needs to increase the number of STEM students for the well-being of the future. We are currently in the middle of the pack on STEM students, when we really should be at the top. On average, the US is only pumping 50,000 grads with STEM degrees out yearly, which is insignificant compared to China and India's rates. The future of this country depends on technological and scientific innovations, and if we do not have an highly educated and prepared population of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians, then we are in trouble. Talk about the scores of fourth and eighth grades on the NAEP. Students need to basic foundations of science and should be instilled with a sense of enthusiasm for science and math very early on in school. In terms of medical related issues, energy alternatives, etcetcetc.
III. HISTORICAL ROOTS OF ISSUE - This has not really been an issue in the past because the United States was producing the highest number college graduates in the past. Only over the few few decades have foreign countries become more competitive, especially in the STEM fields. Over the last few decades there has been an observed decrease in both the performance and population of STEM students, but this Educate to Innovate is one of the major attempts to fix this issue.
IV. CURRENT APPROACHES - Obama has just launched the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, which focuses on increasing the number of students pursuing STEM fields and "moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack by the next decade." Educate to Innovate is also looking to get more women and minority groups involved in STEM careers; we are not utilizing our full population, and by doing that, we are limiting our scientific advances, etc. The campaign lays out some really great ideas with hopes of attracting more US students. The federal government is stepping in, with help from many companies, non-profit organizations, foundations, and leading scientific and mathematics societies to boost the United States' population of students to excel in STEM fields. The fact that Obama is stepping in reinforces the idea that this is a detrimental issue. Some of the main affiliations with the "educate to Innovate" campaign are "These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics -- the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the "Cougar Cannon" -- to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions. The MacArthur Foundation and industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers -- joined by volunteers in the community -- are participating in a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning."
Even Sesame Street has joined in on the campaign and is featuring STEM topics in twenty of the twenty six episodes. These ideas are really trying to instill a sense of enthusiasm about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics starting in young childhood.
It appears as though the Obama administration is attempting to tackle this issue from many different angles - through the media, interactive games, after-school programs, competitions, and through classroom learning.
Obama is even hosting events at his house.
speaking at colleges(MIT) to really reinforce that drive
V. RELATION TO RI SCHOOLS -
VI. PERSONAL OPINION -
"The key to meeting these challenges -- to improving our health and well-being, to harnessing clean energy, to protecting our security, and succeeding in the global economy -- will be reaffirming and strengthening America's role as the world's engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation. And that
leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in those fields that hold the promise of producing future innovations and innovators. And that's why education in math and science is so important." - Obama http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-education-innovate-campaign
EMMA - Many of the issues that America is currently facing, Obama says, "...are, at root, scientific problems." Without an innovative and educated regime, America will continue to fall behind.
Now the hard truth is that for decades we've been losing ground. One assessment shows American 15-year-olds now rank 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around the world. And this isn't news. We've seen worrying statistics like this for years. Yet, time and again, we've let partisan and petty bickering stand in the way of progress. And time and again, as a nation, we've let our children down.
And through the Race to the Top, states won't just be receiving funding, they'll have to compete for funding. And in this competition, producing the most innovative programs in math and science will be an advantage. In addition, we are challenging states to improve achievement by raising standards, using data to better inform decisions, and taking new approaches to turn around struggling schools. And because a great teacher is the single most important factor in a great education, we're asking states to focus on teacher effectiveness and to make it possible for professionals -- like many of the people in this room -- to bring their experience and enthusiasm into the classroom.
Today, we are launching the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the goal this administration has set: moving to the top in science and math education in the next decade. We've got leaders from private companies and universities, foundations and non-profits, and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers, and teachers from across America. The initial commitment of the private sector to this campaign is more than $260 million –- and we only expect the campaign to grow.
Business leaders from Intel, Xerox, Kodak, and Time Warner Cable are teaming up with Sally Ride, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the Carnegie Corporation, to find and replicate successful science, math, and technology programs all across America. Sesame Street has begun a two-year initiative to teach young kids about math and science. And Discovery Communications is going to deliver interactive science content to 60,000 schools reaching 35 million students.
These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics -- the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the "Cougar Cannon" -- to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions. The MacArthur Foundation and industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers -- joined by volunteers in the community -- are participating in a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning.
Students will launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and get their hands dirty. They'll have the chance to build and create -- and maybe destroy just a little bit -- (laughter) -- to see the promise of being the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things.
The administration is participating as well. We've already had a number of science-focused events with young people at the White House, including Astronomy Night a few weeks ago. The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, under the leadership of a terrific scientist, Steven Chu, have launched an innovative -- an initiative to inspire tens of thousands of students to pursue careers in clean energy.
And today, I'm announcing that we're going to have an annual science fair at the White House with the winners of national competitions in science and technology. If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you've produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House we're going to lead by example. We're going to show young people how cool science can be.
That gives you a sense of what's happening around the world. There is a hunger for knowledge, an insistence on excellence, a reverence for science and math and technology and learning. That used to be what we were about. That's what we're going to be about again. SEE! IN THE PAST IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE. IT IS ONLY NOW THAT WE ARE FALLING BEHIND.
So, yes, improving education in math and science is about producing engineers and researchers and scientists and innovators who are going to help transform our economy and our lives for the better. But it's also about something more. It's about expanding opportunity for all Americans in a world where an education is the key to success. It's about an informed citizenry in an era where many of the problems we face as a nation are, at root, scientific problems. And it's about the power of science to not only unlock new discoveries, but to unlock in the minds of our young people a sense of promise, a sense that with some hard work -- with effort -- they have the potential to achieve extraordinary things.
Emma - Many individuals see this as a step in the right direction, seeing how Educate to Innovate provides funds to schools based on new, innovated ideas, rather than solely the school's performance. Says Chuck Lawton, of GeekDad - "Making Science Cool: Educate to Innovate"
"Regardless, the consensus is that this is a step in the right direction. Additional funding - especially funding tied to merits of new ideas and not just performance - will help foster innovation in how we teach the next generation of kids about math, science, engineering and technology. And these partnerships with the private sector will hopefully succeed in offering additional exposure to students both in the classroom and after school." Exact quote.
I. ISSUE - The United States needs to increase the number of students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degrees/careers.
II. IMPORTANCE OF ISSUE - The US needs to increase the number of STEM students for the well-being of the future. We are currently in the middle of the pack on STEM students, when we really should be at the top. On average, the US is only pumping 50,000 grads with STEM degrees out yearly, which is insignificant compared to China and India's rates. The future of this country depends on technological and scientific innovations, and if we do not have an highly educated and prepared population of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians, then we are in trouble. Talk about the scores of fourth and eighth grades on the NAEP. Students need to basic foundations of science and should be instilled with a sense of enthusiasm for science and math very early on in school. In terms of medical related issues, energy alternatives, etcetcetc.
III. HISTORICAL ROOTS OF ISSUE - This has not really been an issue in the past because the United States was producing the highest number college graduates in the past. Only over the few few decades have foreign countries become more competitive, especially in the STEM fields. Over the last few decades there has been an observed decrease in both the performance and population of STEM students, but this Educate to Innovate is one of the major attempts to fix this issue.
IV. CURRENT APPROACHES - Obama has just launched the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, which focuses on increasing the number of students pursuing STEM fields and "moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack by the next decade." Educate to Innovate is also looking to get more women and minority groups involved in STEM careers; we are not utilizing our full population, and by doing that, we are limiting our scientific advances, etc. The campaign lays out some really great ideas with hopes of attracting more US students. The federal government is stepping in, with help from many companies, non-profit organizations, foundations, and leading scientific and mathematics societies to boost the United States' population of students to excel in STEM fields. The fact that Obama is stepping in reinforces the idea that this is a detrimental issue. Some of the main affiliations with the "educate to Innovate" campaign are "These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics -- the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the "Cougar Cannon" -- to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions. The MacArthur Foundation and industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers -- joined by volunteers in the community -- are participating in a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning."
Even Sesame Street has joined in on the campaign and is featuring STEM topics in twenty of the twenty six episodes. These ideas are really trying to instill a sense of enthusiasm about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics starting in young childhood.
It appears as though the Obama administration is attempting to tackle this issue from many different angles - through the media, interactive games, after-school programs, competitions, and through classroom learning.
Obama is even hosting events at his house.
speaking at colleges(MIT) to really reinforce that drive
Sources List
V. RELATION TO RI SCHOOLS -
VI. PERSONAL OPINION -
"The key to meeting these challenges -- to improving our health and well-being, to harnessing clean energy, to protecting our security, and succeeding in the global economy -- will be reaffirming and strengthening America's role as the world's engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation. And that
leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in those fields that hold the promise of producing future innovations and innovators. And that's why education in math and science is so important." - Obama http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-education-innovate-campaign
EMMA - Many of the issues that America is currently facing, Obama says, "...are, at root, scientific problems." Without an innovative and educated regime, America will continue to fall behind.
Now the hard truth is that for decades we've been losing ground. One assessment shows American 15-year-olds now rank 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around the world. And this isn't news. We've seen worrying statistics like this for years. Yet, time and again, we've let partisan and petty bickering stand in the way of progress. And time and again, as a nation, we've let our children down.
And through the Race to the Top, states won't just be receiving funding, they'll have to compete for funding. And in this competition, producing the most innovative programs in math and science will be an advantage. In addition, we are challenging states to improve achievement by raising standards, using data to better inform decisions, and taking new approaches to turn around struggling schools. And because a great teacher is the single most important factor in a great education, we're asking states to focus on teacher effectiveness and to make it possible for professionals -- like many of the people in this room -- to bring their experience and enthusiasm into the classroom.
Today, we are launching the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the goal this administration has set: moving to the top in science and math education in the next decade. We've got leaders from private companies and universities, foundations and non-profits, and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers, and teachers from across America. The initial commitment of the private sector to this campaign is more than $260 million –- and we only expect the campaign to grow.
Business leaders from Intel, Xerox, Kodak, and Time Warner Cable are teaming up with Sally Ride, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the Carnegie Corporation, to find and replicate successful science, math, and technology programs all across America. Sesame Street has begun a two-year initiative to teach young kids about math and science. And Discovery Communications is going to deliver interactive science content to 60,000 schools reaching 35 million students.
These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics -- the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the "Cougar Cannon" -- to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions. The MacArthur Foundation and industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers -- joined by volunteers in the community -- are participating in a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning.
Students will launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and get their hands dirty. They'll have the chance to build and create -- and maybe destroy just a little bit -- (laughter) -- to see the promise of being the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things.
The administration is participating as well. We've already had a number of science-focused events with young people at the White House, including Astronomy Night a few weeks ago. The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, under the leadership of a terrific scientist, Steven Chu, have launched an innovative -- an initiative to inspire tens of thousands of students to pursue careers in clean energy.
And today, I'm announcing that we're going to have an annual science fair at the White House with the winners of national competitions in science and technology. If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you've produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House we're going to lead by example. We're going to show young people how cool science can be.
That gives you a sense of what's happening around the world. There is a hunger for knowledge, an insistence on excellence, a reverence for science and math and technology and learning. That used to be what we were about. That's what we're going to be about again. SEE! IN THE PAST IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE. IT IS ONLY NOW THAT WE ARE FALLING BEHIND.
So, yes, improving education in math and science is about producing engineers and researchers and scientists and innovators who are going to help transform our economy and our lives for the better. But it's also about something more. It's about expanding opportunity for all Americans in a world where an education is the key to success. It's about an informed citizenry in an era where many of the problems we face as a nation are, at root, scientific problems. And it's about the power of science to not only unlock new discoveries, but to unlock in the minds of our young people a sense of promise, a sense that with some hard work -- with effort -- they have the potential to achieve extraordinary things.
Emma - Many individuals see this as a step in the right direction, seeing how Educate to Innovate provides funds to schools based on new, innovated ideas, rather than solely the school's performance. Says Chuck Lawton, of GeekDad - "Making Science Cool: Educate to Innovate"
"Regardless, the consensus is that this is a step in the right direction. Additional funding - especially funding tied to merits of new ideas and not just performance - will help foster innovation in how we teach the next generation of kids about math, science, engineering and technology. And these partnerships with the private sector will hopefully succeed in offering additional exposure to students both in the classroom and after school." Exact quote.